Lo! - No 03 - 1995 08

Magazine Overview

LO! Magazine, Issue #3, dated August 1995, is published quarterly by the United Aerial Phenomena Agency. The magazine's stated mission is to present 'THE MYSTERIOUS, THE WONDERMENT OF THE WORLD.' It is edited by Allan J. Manak and Rick R. Hilberg, with Carol J. Hilberg as Managing Editor. Subscriptions are available for $7.00 for four issues or $13.00 for eight issues, with an additional $3.00 per year for subscriptions outside the U.S.A.

Articles

CROSSETT GHOST LIGHT

This article details the phenomenon of the Crossett Ghost Light, a mysterious yellowish glow often seen moving slowly along railroad tracks just west of Crossett, Arkansas. The light has been observed by hundreds of people since the early 1900s. Investigators claim there is nothing to the light, but the article recounts a disturbing incident from the first decade of the 20th century. A brakeman was decapitated when a train surged forward while he was inspecting couplings between two boxcars. His head remained on the railroad bed because the crew was afraid to pick it up, and its fate is unknown. The following summer, a strange light began appearing along the tracks near where the incident occurred. In the summer of 1967, four teenagers witnessed a yellowish ball of light, about 18 inches in diameter, moving slowly toward them. One teenager stood in front of the light, which then disappeared and reappeared behind him. The light then passed completely through the teenager's body as he stood on the tracks, leaving his friends speechless and frightened. The source is cited as UFO Newclipping Service, #308.

ICE METEORITES IN CHINA

Chinese experts have recovered what they believe to be chunks of meteorite ice that fell to Earth in Zhejiang province. Amateur geologist Zhong Gongpei reported that farmers saw three large chunks of ice crash into paddy fields on March 23. Meteorite expert Wang Sichao of the Purple Mountain Observatory stated that two recovered chunks are likely ice meteorites, though further analysis is needed. No ice meteorite has ever been verified by scientists before. Witnesses described a 'shooo-ing' sound and a cloudy streak as the ice fell. The largest chunk, about the size of a fist, left a crater one meter in diameter. The ice is described as white, semi-transparent, with an irregular shape and air bubbles, unlike manmade ice or hailstones. The source is the Delve Report, May 1995.

NORTH CAROLINA ICE FALL BLAMED ON AIRCRAFT TOILET

A man in Vale, North Carolina, was surprised when a blob of blue ice, believed to be waste from a commercial airplane, fell from the sky and crashed through the roof of his workshop. The volleyball-sized block of ice left a hole about a foot in diameter. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), such ice balls can form from lavatory waste due to temperatures and altitude during flight and break loose during descent. FAA officials are investigating to locate the plane. Don Gardner, an FAA safety inspector, stated that while this type of incident is rare, it's possible it was a one-time occurrence. The FAA is glad the incident was limited to property damage and no one was hurt.

NESSIE HAS CHINESE COUSIN?

This section reports on a giant, vapor-breathing creature called 'Chan,' or 'toad,' living in a gorge in China's Hubei province, described as a cousin to the Loch Ness monster. Authorities from near Shennongjia National Forest swear it exists but are afraid to capitalize on it. Chan is described as having red hair, a flat head, protruding eyes like lanterns, a metre-wide mouth breathing white vapor, fat human-shaped webbed hands, and bathtub-sized webbed feet. The first recorded sighting was in 1962 when peasants fishing in the gorge were chased by the creature. Over the past 30 years, sightings have attracted the interest of Professor Lui Minzhuang, who believes Chan is a relic from the palaeolithic era. He has since suffered a stroke. A team from the Chinese Academy of Science is planning a two-month expedition to Shennongjia to investigate. The source is Louise Evans, Melbourne, Australia, Herald-Sun, March 20, 1995.

OREGON BIGFOOT TRAP

This article discusses a 'very large beamed structure, like a small cabin,' built in 1974 by North American Wildlife Research in the U.S. Forest Service's Applegate Ranger District, Oregon, to capture Bigfoot. Although no longer operational, the trap remains a curiosity. In 1969, Perry Lovell found 18-inch footprints with six-foot strides in his garden on forest service land. This led to the construction of the trap. The article also mentions sporadic sightings of Bigfoot in the high country at Silver Fork, though nothing in recent history. Directions to the trap site are provided, involving a hike on the Collings Mountain Trail.

MYSTERIOUS THUNDERSTORM "SPRITES"

Scientists are puzzled by 'sprites,' bizarre electrical events that flash briefly far above Earth, sometimes near the edge of space. These phenomena, quicker than a flashbulb, are as startling as the aurora borealis. They dance in the void tens of miles above thunderstorms with no obvious connection. The biggest sprites are incredibly large, filling thousands of cubic miles of air. Some scientists worry that sprites and 'blue jets' could threaten high-altitude aircraft. The U.S. Air Force is starting a sprite research project at Phillips Laboratory at Hanscom Air Force Base. An American Airlines pilot described witnessing a blue jet as 'the most spectacular and unexpected natural event I have seen,' detailing a vertical shaft of blue light propagating upward from a cloud. Blue jets are typically bluish and occur just above thunderstorms, while sprites are larger and occur higher in the atmosphere, sometimes flashing more than 50 miles up in the ionosphere. Laila Jeong, head of the Air Force sprite project, stated that potential effects on aircraft systems need to be explored. The source is Keay Davidson, San Francisco Examiner, June 14, 1995.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores unexplained phenomena, including alleged paranormal events, cryptids, and unusual atmospheric occurrences. The editorial stance appears to be one of presenting these phenomena with factual reporting, citing sources, and including expert opinions or official investigations where available. The magazine aims to challenge the mind by presenting intriguing and mysterious topics from around the world.